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Decentralized Democracy

House Hansard - 247

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
November 6, 2023 11:00AM
Context: House Hansard - 247 - Nov/6/23
The Speaker
  • Nov/6/23 3:37:21 p.m.
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Colleagues, we had a point of order raising a very serious issue of comportment, decorum and respect in the House. The member to whom it was directed rose and indicated that this was not done on purpose. I am placed in a very difficult situation. If hon. colleagues will allow me, I will take a look at this issue, but let me say this. When members are offered an opportunity to explain their actions and they do, usually the matter is closed. This has raised some disorder in the House. I will take a look at it, and if necessary, I will come back to the House. I hope this will be the end of the points of order on this particular issue. The hon. member for South Shore—St. Margarets is rising on a point of order.
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Mr. Rick Perkins
  • Nov/6/23 3:39:28 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, as a point of clarification, as a witness—
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Mr. Philip Lawrence
  • Nov/6/23 3:39:28 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the chief whip of our party should be given the appropriate time to give full merit to the situation, as is customary—
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The Speaker
  • Nov/6/23 3:39:28 p.m.
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I just indicated to all members of the House that I am going to take a look at the video and will come back to members if it is necessary. The hon. member for Northumberland—Peterborough South is rising on a point of order.
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The Speaker
  • Nov/6/23 3:39:42 p.m.
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I heard the point raised by the hon. member. It is a very serious point. The hon. member it concerned rose to offer an explanation. I am going to review the video on this and come back to the House if necessary. The hon. member for Gatineau.
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Hon. Steven MacKinnon
  • Nov/6/23 3:40:07 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I rise on a different point of order. I would put to you that during the vote, the catcalls and the very oppressive screaming from the other side are an intimidation and bullying tactic by members of the opposition to all members of this place—
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The Speaker
  • Nov/6/23 3:40:36 p.m.
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That strikes me as being on the same matter, and I have already explained to this House what I am going to do on it. If there are no related points of order on this, I am going to suggest that we move on to the business of the House. I recognize the hon. member for Battle River—Crowfoot and hope he heard my statement.
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Mr. Damien Kurek
  • Nov/6/23 3:41:16 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I think if you look throughout the Standing Orders, you will see very clearly that when concerns are brought forward in this House, specifically when the chief opposition whip brings forward a concern, it is absolutely essential for and incumbent upon the Chair to ensure that the evidence being presented is heard in its entirety, as that is key to ensuring we can perform our parliamentary duties in this place. Whether the governing party or other parties like it or not, it is incumbent upon the Chair to ensure that the chief opposition whip has a chance to be heard.
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The Speaker
  • Nov/6/23 3:41:55 p.m.
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Let me assure all members that I understood very clearly the substance of what was raised and the act that was raised. I offered the member who was accused of doing the act an opportunity to explain it to the House and present his apologies. The member gave an explanation. I am going to take this matter back. There is no more reason for us to dispute this matter, aside from holding up the affairs of this House. Let me reassure all members that I look at all of their interventions very carefully, but at this point, I have not heard a new point of order being raised. The hon. member for Grande Prairie—Mackenzie.
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Mr. Chris Warkentin
  • Nov/6/23 3:42:45 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I think it is important for us to consider what has just happened in this House. A member, the chief opposition whip, brought forward very compelling proof, with video evidence—
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The Speaker
  • Nov/6/23 3:43:04 p.m.
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I am going to ask the hon. member for Grande Prairie—Mackenzie to get right to the point so we can move on with the affairs of the House.
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Mr. Chris Warkentin
  • Nov/6/23 3:43:36 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the point is this. You have made a great effort in your public comments to state you want to bring decorum to this House, which has been fundamentally undermined by the way in which this whole thing has unravelled. The chief opposition whip was unable to express the evidence being put before you. The member from the Liberal Party stood up and said that he was innocent of using the gesture, and it was only after multiple other interventions that you said you would take it back. I believe that undermines the public statements you have made with regard to bringing decorum to this House.
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The Speaker
  • Nov/6/23 3:44:28 p.m.
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I regret that the member feels this way. However, as Chair, I feel that I have heard the point raised by the chief whip of the opposition. It was an important point and very well made. I wanted to hear if there were any new points related to it and no new points were raised. I asked the hon. member to rise and he offered his excuse. I indicated to all members, based on what was raised by the hon. whip of the opposition, that I am going to look at this matter and come back to this House if it is necessary to do so. I hope the member for Miramichi is rising on a new point of order. If it is the same one, I think I have heard enough and we should move on to the next item of the House.
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Mr. Jake Stewart
  • Nov/6/23 3:45:29 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, it is a new point of order. I, many of my colleagues and many of the people at home continue to ask the same question: Why is the volume being turned down so often by the Speaker? Can you explain why that is happening so often?
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The Speaker
  • Nov/6/23 3:46:05 p.m.
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This was— Some hon. members: Oh, oh! The Speaker: It is because the Chair is standing up. I am going to allow the member to— Some hon. members: Oh, oh! The Speaker: I am going to ask the hon. member— Some hon. members: Oh, oh! The Speaker: This is the reason why microphones are sometimes turned off: to preserve the honour of the House when there are conversations happening back and forth without people having the floor. No member, I can guarantee, has ever been cut off in terms of making their presentation, posing a question or giving an answer, with the exception of the time when the Speaker is up. This matter has been brought up with House leaders. I have talked about this issue and it is being addressed. The hon. member for Miramichi—Grand Lake, on a new matter, I would hope.
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Mr. Jake Stewart
  • Nov/6/23 3:47:00 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, this is on a point of clarification on the point of order. Canadians are feeling like their members of Parliament are being subjected to the microphone's being turned off right at the point when they are making points of order and points of clarification. Making those points is something we are entitled to as members of the House. It is happening on this side more often than not. We do not like to be cut off. It is debate, that is fine. If the Speaker does not agree that it is a point of order, that is fine. However, we still have the right to be heard, and the microphone needs to be left on when we are speaking.
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The Speaker
  • Nov/6/23 3:47:34 p.m.
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On the same point of order, the hon. parliamentary secretary. I hope he will come straight to the point.
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Mr. Kevin Lamoureux
  • Nov/6/23 3:47:39 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, like you, I have been very patient, listening to commentaries. You, a while back, very clearly established that you had already received enough information to make some sort of a ruling, pending a review of the situation. Members continued to stand up, which is a challenge of the ruling you have made as Speaker. I would suggest that people just tone it down and allow the Speaker to do his job.
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The Speaker
  • Nov/6/23 3:48:14 p.m.
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That is not a point of order. I think we have finished with all the matters which were raised right now. I have promised members that I will come back to them on the original issue that was raised. I wish to inform the House that, because of the deferred recorded division, Government Orders will be extended by 12 minutes. There are two members who have their hands up. The hon. member for Saanich—Gulf Islands.
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Ms. Elizabeth May
  • Nov/6/23 3:48:51 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I am rising briefly on a point of order, because I believe the point of order made by the hon. member for Gatineau may have been missed in the furor over other issues. Being a virtual participant, I find it very distressing when, during votes, there is so much heckling. That was the point raised. It had nothing to do with anything visual we observed. However, auditory interruptions in the voting process are against the Standing Orders, and I just wanted to rise briefly to support the hon. member for Gatineau. Perhaps the Speaker might come back to that question of decorum to remind us of the rules.
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